How to Use Rebuildable Atomizers

An atomizer consists of three basic parts: a tank to hold the e-liquid, a mouthpiece and a heating element that makes contact with the battery to vaporize the e-liquid. In a rebuildable atomizer, or RBA, the heating element, or coil, and wick are wrapped together. Depending on the model, an RBA may use an O-ring to guard against leaks. On some types of atomizers, all elements, from the tank to the mouthpiece, are replaceable. However, in the world of vaping, the term "rebuildable atomizer" is normally used to describe an atomizer with coils that must be made by the user.

This is not as complicated as it might sound. Anyone with halfway decent manual dexterity, a little patience and - at most - a couple of common household tools can make coils for an RBA. Other than the parts, the only specialty item you might not already have is a multimeter. This is an inexpensive gauge for measuring electrical signals, and you will need it to test the coils you make before you connect your RBA to your battery. The reason that testing is important is that a bad coil can destroy your battery, and potentially, it could cause even more damage.

Most RBAs are less expensive to use over the long term when compared to atomizers with prebuilt replaceable coils. However, on a list of the advantages of an RBA, many users rank financial savings lower than the ability to customize their vaping experience to improve the quality of the vape. Users can choose from a variety of wick materials, ranging from cotton to stainless steel mesh, and each material can alter the taste of the vapor. Therefore, the choice of material depends on your personal preferences.

A rebuild requires only a few simple steps. The first is to drain any e-liquid and disassemble the atomizer. There are normally two screws keeping the coil and wick in place that must be loosened. It is a good idea to wipe everything down; a cotton swab can come in handy for getting into hard-to-reach places.

Most coils are formed by wrapping the wire and the wick together. Beginners should be generous with their lengths, starting with five or six inches of each until they have mastered the process. Once the coil is ready, it's just a matter of winding it and attaching it to the two posts - one negative and one positive - on the RBA. The screws need to be tightened snugly, but they should not be over-tightened as this can draw the coil out of position and cause a short. Although many people need no tools for the operation, others use a small screwdriver for loosening and tightening the screws, and others find that a small pair of needle-nose pliers or plastic tweezers can be beneficial when winding the coil.

Once the coil is in place, it must be tested. A multimeter will display errors if any are found. If no errors are detected, the coil should then be checked for resistance to ensure that readings are within specification. If there are errors, such as an area where the coil is touching itself, they should be corrected and the coil should be tested again. If there are no errors, then the atomizer can be reassembled and vaping can resume.

It is unlikely that a novice will produce a perfect coil on the first attempt. It takes practice to get the hang of it, but for many, the improved taste and financial rewards make it worth the effort. Find out more about the selection of rebuildable atomizers available here at Lite Cig USA.

What is a Drip Tip?

As the e-cigarette revolution continues to grow, vapers are finding new ways to create a more pleasant experience. One element that's gaining popularity is the use of drip tips. These mouthpieces offer several benefits over traditional e-cigs.

Traditional E-Cigs vs. Drip Tips
The traditional e-cigarette uses a battery-powered atomizer and a liquid-filled cartridge that also contains some fiber or foam wicking material. When the cartridge is attached to the atomizer - in cartomizers, they're already combined - the liquid-soaked fiber touches the atomizer's bridge, which then heats the liquid to produce vapor.

A drip tip is essentially a reusable, hollow tube that attaches directly to the atomizer and eliminates the need for a cartridge. Instead, the user adds a few drops of liquid through the center of the drip tip directly onto the atomizer's bridge. New atomizers might require three or four drops to produce adequate vapor while ones that have been used for a while may only need a couple of drops at a time; this could vary with different brands or sizes. Each addition of liquid produces anywhere from five to eight inhalations, depending on how much vapor is drawn each time.

Benefits of Drip Tips
Drip tips have several benefits that create an enhanced vaping experience:

Better Flavor: Both the plastic material of a cartridge and its wicking material can slightly distort vapor flavor, adding an unpleasant taste to the liquid. Using a drip tip removes both these elements for improved flavor.

Quick Use: Instead of detaching a cartridge and inserting a new one when refilling, the user adds drops directly to the atomizer as needed. Additionally, the liquid converts into vapor much quicker than with traditional methods because it doesn't go through any wicking material.

Eliminates Direct Liquid Contact: With a drip tip, there's no chance of liquid from the cartridge getting directly into someone's mouth.

Unrestricted Vapor Flow: Normally, vapor has to travel through a cartridge's small opening, which can mean diminished flow. A drip tip allows for greater flow because vapor travels directly through the hollow mouthpiece.

Less Clogging: Using a drip tip cuts down on clogging in the atomizer thanks to the direct application of liquid.

Style and Customization: Drip tips come in plastic or metal, in a variety of colors and in different shapes. This allows users to customize e-cigarettes to suit their personal preferences. For instance, someone might choose several drip tips in varied colors to match different flavored liquids.

A Couple of Drip Tip Drawbacks
The drawbacks with drip tips are fairly minor. Mainly, a vaper must carry a bottle of liquid for necessary, regular refills. It also takes a bit of practice to learn how much liquid to add and how often. Too little liquid on the atomizer and it creates irritating, dry vapor; this can also damage an atomizer. Too much liquid and the e-cig overflows; however, once learned, this issue disappears. Lastly, drip tips often work only with their own brand of e-cig, which can be limiting.

Is a Passthrough Battery a Good Choice?

Several vapers have made the choice between manual and automatic batteries when it comes to designing a more custom rig, but what about passthrough batteries?

What is a passthrough battery?

A passthrough battery is a manual e-cigarette battery that charges itself using a standard USB connection.

Benefits of Passthrough Batteries

Passthrough batteries are extremely convenient when you’re on the go or stuck at your computer doing work. Able to plug in just like modern smartphones, these batteries keep you from running out of juice when you’re away from your vaping supplies. A passthrough battery eliminates the need to spend money regularly on manual or automatic batteries and prevents run-ins with faulty batteries. With a USB battery, you can lengthen the life of the battery the more you charge it up, thus turning it into an economical and long-term investment.

Downsides to Passthrough Batteries

If you plan to use a passthrough battery in your car, you’ll have to buy a separate adapter to convert your 12v outlet into a USB outlet. As with any USB connection, they tend to wear out over time. Replacement wires will be needed depending on your vaping habits. Some users report occasional issues with the batteries not functioning properly with specialized sizes of clearomizers or cartomizers, so be sure to do your homework before making a purchase!

The majority of passthrough battery users enjoy the convenience and simplicity of them. They are perfect for the office or the car, and they save money on having to replace more traditional batteries. Do some research and see which style of battery works for your vaping needs!

Propylene Glycol or Vegetable Glycerin E-Juice?

E-juice or e-liquid consistently contains one of two water soluble liquids meant to produce vapor and mimic the sensation of smoking a traditional cigarette. Those two liquids are propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, but what makes them different?

Propylene Glycol

The more commonly used liquid of the two, propylene glycol (PG for short) produces a more pronounced throat hit. Some users have found their throats to be irritated after using a PG-based e-juice, with some even reporting allergic reactions.
PG adds a slightly sweet component to the overall flavor which allows complex flavors to not be overpowered by the chemical properties of PG. It is a thinner liquid which helps prevent residue buildup around the various mechanical parts of your vape.

Vegetable Glycerin

Used less often in e-juice, vegetable glycerin (VG for short) produces a smoother throat hit than PG. As a result of its smoother hit, many users have found their throats to be less irritated after vaping.
It has a higher viscosity than PG and a more pronounced sweetness as well. That sweet flavor can overpower an e-juice’s other flavors from time to time. Due to its thicker properties, VG will produce more vapor in each hit. That added thickness can also result in buildup around your vape’s mechanical parts, which may require cleaning more often.

PG or VG?

Choosing between the two types of e-juice ingredients comes down to personal taste, comfort and preference. As several vaping enthusiasts tend to migrate over to e-cigs from traditional cigarettes, choosing a PG-based e-juice will feel more familiar to them due to the stronger throat hit. Try both or, if you’re a chemist at heart, consider carefully mixing the two styles to create a custom vaping experience all your own.

States that Prohibit E-cig Use

Vaping is beginning to regularly fall under the microscope of legislation, and more states are beginning to pass their own laws prohibiting the use of e-cigs on various state properties. The graphic below illustrates states that, as of January 2014, have passed laws prohibiting e-cig use in some form. Blue states prohibit their use on or in government property, green states prohibit their use on school grounds, red states prohibit their use on or in correctional facility grounds, and purple states prohibit their use on public trains.

Automatic vs. Manual E-cig Batteries

When selecting a new electronic cigarette, one of the bigger decisions you’ll have to make is whether to outfit your e-cig with an automatic or manual battery. Let’s review the pros and cons of using both of these types of batteries for your e-cigarette.

Advantages of Automatic E-Cig Batteries

An automatic e-cig battery is very simple to use. Simply take a drag and the battery will work in conjunction with the atomizer to produce vapor. Once the computer chip inside recognizes that you have finished taking a drag, it will shut itself off after a few seconds. It’s a quick and easy process that allows your smoking experience to very closely resemble a real cigarette. This makes the use of automatic batteries very popular with new e-cig users.

Disadvantages of Automatic E-Cig Batteries

Due to the automatic shut-off feature of automatic batteries, the amount of times you can drag from your cigarette is reduced. Additionally, automatic batteries only produce small amounts of vapor. For a longer drag, you’ll have to prime the battery by inhaling deeply a few times.

When using an automatic battery, you run the risk of the battery failing due to circuitry issues. Should some of your e-liquid leak into the battery, it could short out and the battery would be rendered useless. The reason this is more prevalent in automatic batteries is due to the fact that they are not made with a sealed design. Additionally, automatic batteries have been known to be triggered by the environment. Loud noises or heavy winds could make the battery think you’re taking a drag and start draining its charge.

Advantages of Manual E-Cig Batteries

A manual e-cig battery gives you more control over your vaping experience, but does require the additional step of pressing a button to use the battery before you can inhale. Unlike automatic batteries, manual ones are completely sealed which prevents them from ever short circuiting due to an e-liquid leak.

Disadvantages of Manual E-Cig Batteries

Like any kind of device that includes buttons, a manual battery can go off accidentally. When in your pocket, for example, a manual battery could drain its charge. On a whole, the charge of a manual battery does not last as long as an automatic, resulting in less time spent smoking and more time spent charging.

Making a decision on which type of battery to use in your e-cig doesn’t need to make or break your vaping experience. A wide variety of electronic cigarette kits are available in both styles of battery to suit your needs which allows you to adjust your battery preference in the future.

A Review of the Lotus VapeCase

New at LiteCigUSA is the VapeCase by Lotus. Designed with form and function in mind, the VapeCase by Lotus is a sleek, secure way to take your e-cig with you wherever you go.

The VapeCase is currently designed for the iPhone 5/5s, and adds space on the back of your phone case for e-cig charging and storage. A micro USB port on the side of the case lets you conveniently charge your e-cigarette when it isn’t in use, and the entire unit features short circuit and overcharge protection to ensure the longevity and functionality of your e-cig.

Some other features of the Lotus VapeCase include:

• Four selectable output voltages (2.75v, 3.5v, 4.25v, 5v)
• Five click locking safety feature to keep e-cig firmly secure
• LED display on the side of the case to show charge status
• Impact-resistant plastic
• 30 day warranty against manufacturer defect

Offered currently for an unbeatable sale price of $99.95, the VapeCase by Lotus is the perfect gift for gadget and technology geeks. Buy for the vaping enthusiast in your life or treat yourself with this revolutionary product from Lotus today!